Breadcrumb

1. Home

2. Print 

3. Pdf 

4. Node 

5. Entity Print 

Frequently Asked Questions About

Live Animal Exports

Last Modified: 

Print

Find answers to common questions related to exporting live animals outside of the

United States.

If you're traveling with a pet, learn about requirements for international pet travel or

view our frequently asked questions about pet travel.

Process

What documents do I need to export my animals?

The documents needed vary depending on the destination, species, intended use of

the animal, and mode of transportation or carrier (airplane, ship, truck). Please visit

International Regulations (IRegs) for Animal Exports and choose your destination

country from the drop-down menu to view available health certificates by species.

All pre-export requirements, including health certificates, must be completed and

documented by a veterinarian licensed to practice medicine in the State where they

are working. Unless there is a country-specific exception listed on the APHIS website,
the veterinarian issuing the health certificate must also be accredited by the U.S.

Department of Agriculture (USDA).

You should also contact your selected carrier for any additional documentation the

carrier may require to move your animals.

How do I obtain a health certificate for my animal?

You must have your animal examined by a veterinarian. If the animal meets the

destination country’s requirements, your veterinarian can issue the health

certificate. The health certificate is then endorsed by APHIS.

Contact your veterinarian to obtain a correct and properly completed export health

certificate. If your veterinarian has questions about which health certificate to use,

please have them contact your local APHIS Veterinary Export Trade Services

Endorsement Office via email, fax, or phone.

Reminder of health certificate responsibility: Anyone who makes a false, fictional, or

fraudulent statement on this document, or uses such document knowing it to be

false, fictional, or fraudulent, may be subject to a fine of not more than $10,000 or

imprisonment of not more than 5 years or both (18 U.S.C 1001).

How long does the process take before I can export my animal?

Get started as soon as possible! The process could take a few weeks to many

months, depending on the importing country's requirements. Some countries require

an isolation or quarantine period, lasting from weeks to months, before an animal is

eligible for entry into that country. Start learning the requirements of your

destination country as soon as you can.

Also, inform your veterinarian of your travel plans as early as possible. Their

involvement is critical to the process.

What if I’m unable to fulfill the testing/treatment/status requirements on the protocol or in an

import permit?

Talk with your local APHIS endorsement office. We can recommend possible

solutions. If you cannot fulfill the requirements, the document may need revision, or

the destination country may not accept the animal species you wish to ship.
Health Certificate

Does one health certificate work in all countries?

No. Each country establishes its own rules for entry of animals from the United

States. You will need to meet the requirements of the destination country. Some

countries require a specific health certificate they have developed. Many of these

may be found at International Regulations (IRegs).

Health requirements and certificates may change at any time, so it is important that

you check one of the websites referenced on the IRegs page for the most current

regulations before exporting your animals.

How do I get my animal health certificate stamped by the USDA? Can I mail my certificate, or

do I need an appointment to meet in person?

The “stamping” process is also called Federal endorsement. Endorsement is a final

review process, where APHIS Veterinary Services officials verify the information on

the certificate as accurate and ensure that the animal meets the destination

country’s requirements. Many countries require the Federal government to stamp or

endorse the health certificate before an animal departs from the United States.

An APHIS Veterinary Export Trade Services Endorsement Office must review all

documents supporting the health certificate. Please bring in or include these

documents when presenting a certificate for endorsement. Laboratory results should

be an original copy. If an original copy is unavailable, have the laboratory fax the

results directly to the endorsement office you're using.

To save time and effort, contact your local APHIS endorsement office to determine

the best way to get your documents endorsed. Options generally include mailing

your documents or scheduling an appointment with your endorsement office. If you

choose to mail the documents via regular mail or overnight service (FedEx or UPS,

for example), please include your check or money order for processing fees made

payable to "USDA." Enclose a preaddressed, prepaid return method for overnight

mail. We recommend that you use a tracking method with the carrier to verify that

the documents have arrived at their destination.

Do I bring my animal with me to the APHIS endorsement office when I get the health certificate

stamped/endorsed?
No. You do not bring your animal to the APHIS endorsement office. We only need to

see the health certificate and supporting documents you have received from your

veterinarian, the destination country, or both.

How much does it cost to have the health certificate stamped?

The fee for stamping/endorsement varies by the number of animals traveling and

the number of tests required for the health certificate. Contact the APHIS

endorsement office in your State for more information. 9 CFR 130 lists user fees for

the import and export of animals. For example, APHIS Veterinary Services charges

for export health certifications. The export health certification user fees are listed in

9 CFR 130.20. 

How long does it take to stamp/endorse a health certificate? When can I expect my certificate

to be returned?

Contact the APHIS endorsement office in your State for processing times. If your

health certificate is not accurate or is on the incorrect form, our office will inform you

or your veterinarian of the errors. We will guide you on how to complete the correct

form accurately.

Veterinarian

Do countries require that the veterinarian who completes the health certificate be accredited or

"USDA-Approved"?

It depends on the country. Check the requirements from the destination country to

determine whether an accredited veterinarian must complete the health certificate.

Many countries, including all of the European Union, require the veterinarian who

examines your animal and issues the health certificate to be federally accredited.

Some countries refer to accredited veterinarians using various terms such as

"competent authority," "official veterinarian," or "issuing authorized veterinarian."

What is an accredited veterinarian, and how do I find one?

The U.S. accredited veterinarian program is a voluntary program that certifies

private veterinary practitioners to work cooperatively with Federal veterinarians and

State animal health officials. For more information, visit National Veterinary
Accreditation Program. To find an accredited veterinarian, ask your regular

veterinarian if they are accredited and feel comfortable running the required test for

export of your animal(s). If your veterinarian is not accredited or comfortable with

the process, ask them to recommend someone or use our search tool at Locate an

Accredited Veterinarian.

Country

The species I want to export isn't listed under the destination country. What do I do?

For requirements not listed, APHIS has not been officially informed by the foreign

country about the requirements for your species. We recommend you contact

animal health officials in the destination country for more information.

If you are unable to obtain information about the requirements from the destination

country, we recommend that your animal travel with a health certificate (for

example, APHIS Form 7001 (438.86 KB)) issued by your veterinarian. Although it

may not be required, we strongly suggest that the health certificate be issued by a

USDA-accredited veterinarian and endorsed by APHIS. To find contact information

for a destination country, visit these websites:

World Organisation for Animal Health—Members

U.S. Department of State—Contact Info for Foreign Embassies and Consulates

The document listed seems old. How do I know if I can use it?

Ask your local APHIS Veterinary Export Trade Services Endorsement Office. We can

tell you whether the current posted requirements can still be certified.

The documents are only in English. Do I need to have them translated?

Contact the appropriate ministry in the destination country. A ministry official will

tell you if the country requires a translation or bilingual document before the animal

can enter the country. The ministry might have a bilingual copy of the document

available for you. APHIS can only endorse documents that are in English or are

bilingual.

Need help with a different issue?
Contact Your Local APHIS Endorsement Office